Quick Facts

Get up to speed about the region

New Delhi lies at the geographical heart of northern
India. Its strategic position along the north-south and east-west routes has
given it a focal position in Indian history. This is evidenced in the fact that
many great empires have been ruled from here.

Today, Delhi is a blend of old and new, a proudly
traditional social structure within a modern liberalized economy.

There are three types of
visas for tourists, available from Indian Consular Offices around the world:

15-day single
/ double entry visa

90-day visa

Multiple-entry
visa valid for six months.

There are certain places
in India that require special permits. These areas include Sikkim, the
North-Eastern states, Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Lakshwadweep.

Business visas are valid
for one or more years with multiple entries. A letter from a sponsoring
organization indicating nature of business, duration of stay, and places /
companies to be visited is often required in order to attain this visa.

For more information please contact the Indian consulate closest to you
or visit the Embassy of India online.

There is a 15% luxury tax and 8.40% service tax on all hotel rooms
in India.

Expect a Value Added Tax (VAT) of 12.5% to
20% on food and beverage purchases.

Expect a 10.2% service charge on all
transportation fees and ticket purchases.

Tipping

Tipping is not customarily practised in New Delhi.

Business Hours

Bank Hours
9am - 6pm

Office Hours
9am - 6pm

Shopping Hours
9am - 9pm

Public Health

A valid yellow fever certificate is mandatory
for all persons (including infants) who have visited Africa, South America or
Papua New Guinea within six days of entering India. The certificate becomes
valid ten days after vaccination. India does not require immunization against
small pox and cholera.

Drinking water from the tap is not
recommended. Bottled drinking water is available in every hotel room.

During the winter months the city air can
become quite smoggy. Asthmatic travellers are advised to carry their medication
at all times.

Dress

Indian traditional dress is the saree.
However, in northern India the traditional attire is called salwarkameez. Younger people generally dress in western clothing. People
wear formal as well as traditional outfits at work.

During summer, it is advisable to wear light shoes and loose-fitting
cotton clothes that cover your arms and legs to protect you from the sun and
insects.

Winter requires gloves and wool clothes.

Weather

Delhi has a wide-ranging climate. Summer in
northern India is very hot, and often humid, with temperatures as high as
48 C (118 F) seen regularly from May to June.

July and August are the monsoon months and
usually quite humid. Expect temperatures ranging from 32 C to 38 C
(90 F to 100 F) with moderate showers.

The months between September and November are
the best months to visit Delhi, with cool, dry temperatures ranging between
24 C and 28 C (75 F to 82 F).

Expect cooler temperatures of 3 C –
18 C (37 F-65 F) between November and February, when gloves and
wool clothes are useful.